Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 19: what you’re looking at

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6 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. I hope to be safe from his pursuit: for I had a sufficient idea of the vastness of the capital to know that one miserable item of the immense mass of humanity might shroud himself there from the knowledge of his pursuers. So my resolve was taken ; and to London would I proceed! Somewhat cheered by the prospect of shortly beholding that mighty city which was associated in my mind with all possible attributes of splen- dour, wealth, encouragement, and hope, I pursued my way,—accomplishing three or four miles with- out feeling much weariness, and experiencing a proportionate elevation of the spirits, the greater the distance that grew between me and Leicester. And yet my position was one which had little or nothing satisfactory in it, if properly contemplated. My box was of course left behind in the cart: I had nothing but what I stood upright in—not a single change of linen; and only half-a-crown in my pocket—that half-crown which Mrs. Nelson had given me at parting. It was my every-day suit that I wore; and it was shabby enough: for my best clothes were in my box—and my exié from the school had been too hurried, as the reader has seen, to allow me to change my gar- ments. But for the first few miles these circum- stances did not trouble me. When wearied, I en- tered a field and threw myself on the grass to rest. Sleep came upon me; and when I awoke, I found that I had slumbered for many hours, as the sun was now tinging the western horizon with hues of purple, and orange, and gold. I rose up: my limbs felt stiff—and there was a certain despondency in my soul; for the night was coming—I knew not how to obtain a bed—and I feared to roam in the dark. All the horrible tales of robbery and murder which I had ever heard or read, crowded into my mind; and it did not occur to me that people were only murdered when they offered a resistance which a boy like myself would be incapable of showing, and when it was believed that they had about their persons something worth the perpetration of such a crime. I continued my way: the evening closed in—the twilight gra- dually disappeared—the dusk deepened around me. I kept in the middle of the road, so as to guard acainst a surprise in case anybody should leap out from the hedge upon me. YPresently I heard the clatter of wheels and horses’ feet coming from be- hind. I stood aside—a post chaise-and-four was shooting past me, when I thought that I might have a ride for nothing, and moreover that there would be protection and safeguard on the part of the postilions riding the horses and the people seated within the vehicle. I accordingly sprang up behind; and in this manner proceeded about six miles, until the chaise halted at a town to change horses. Then I got down—walked rapidly onward—and had just cleared the buildings of the place, when the chaise overtook me again. I re- sumed my seat behind; and in this way—adopting a similar course at the next haliing-place—I managed to ride altogether twenty miles; so that I was now twenty-five from Leicester and seventy- four from London. But the chaise went no far- ther; and I walked on, vainly expecting that it would overtake me once more. I continued my course deep into the night, until thoroughly ex- hausted; and then entering a field, slept beneath a haystack, When morning came, I washed my- self as well as I could in a rivulet; and proceeding to the nearest village, purchased a penny roll, which I eat ravenously, I longed for better fare —but was determined to husband my resources. I will not go on recording every minute detail of my journey to London. Suffice it to say that by dint of walking until the soles of my shoes were worn through—by getting an occasional ride be- hind a carriage, or a lift in some good-natured per- son’s cart—atter sleeping by night in the fields— and all the time eking out my slender pecuniary © means as well as I was able,—I came in sight of the great metropolis at about seven o’clock on the fourth morning after my flight from Leicester. Though well-nigh beaten with fatigues which I was scarcely strong enough to endure, I nevertheless felt my spirits elate with hope as I walked on; and at length began to enter the outskirts of London. I almost fancied that I should at once be accosted by some benevolent person who, in- quiring into my circumstances, would offer me a situation by which I could earn my bread: but gradually as I drew farther and farther towards the heart of the metropolis, the thought crept into my mind that everybody appeared too much intent upon the hurry and bustle of his own affairs, to give any attention to those of a stranger. I felt sadly wearied, and excessively hungry. Presently I saw by the prices marked up in a humble coffee- house window that I could have a good breakfast for fourpence. I examined the state of my finances, and found that I had exactly tenpence remaining : so I entered—and being served with some tea and bread-and-butter, made a hearty meal. When I had done, I thought that I would inquire of the people of the house if they knew where I could procure a situation of some kind: I did not care what, so long as I couldearn my bread. But then I reflected that as my clothes were in sad disorder through sleeping in the fields and my long fatiguing travels, it would be necessary to make _ such improvement as I could in my personal appearance before seeking for employment. It was some time ere I could muster up courage or induce myself to inquire if I could be allowed the use of a chamber to wash myself in: and when I did, I was eyed suspiciously: but after some litle demur, it was intimated that on the payment of sixpence my wish should be complied with. This was all I had left: but feeling confident of succeeding in my aim ere nightfall, and having the whole day before me for the search,—considermg too how necessary it was to make myself as decent as I possibly could,—I paid the fee, receiving the accommodation I required. By means of soap and water, a clothes-brush, and a hair-comb, I did effect a considerable change in my looks; and as no on2 could see how the soles of my shoes were worn through, I felt comfortable and full of cheerfulness. Before, however, I descended from the room to which I had been shown, the landlady of the place instituted the most searching scrutiny, even to the very shects of the bed; and I felt much shocked as the idea flashed to my mind that she fancied I might have stolen something. Indeed, I made some remark upon the subject,—when she coolly and frankly declared there were s® many young thieves about, who came in such specious guises and with all possible pretexts, that it was necessary to take this precaution. Jiaving thus got her into im Gomicvdooksnco